Attempt to buy Aldwick park is scrapped

They agreed at their meeting to back the decision of a special sub-committee to no longer pursue the purchase of Avisford Park recreation ground for £1.

They decided, instead, to form a working party from the sub-committee’s eight members to investigate and recommend improvements to all the parish’s open spaces.

These are Avisford Park on Nyetimber Lane, Queen’s Field in West Meads, West Park and Marine Park Gardens on Marine Drive West and The Nurseries off Rose Green Road.

The working party will liaise with other interested groups and report its findings to the council.

Cllr John Bass, who chaired the sub-committee, said: “We voted that it was inappropriate at this moment, and not in the best interests of our residents, to purchase Avisford Park for £1.

“The sub-committee found the costs involved in running and maintaining the park in its present state with a contract lasting until 2016 was not cost effective.”

The sub-committee had met five times in the past year to look into buying the 11.9 acres of Avisford Park from Arun District Council.

These sessions included meeting Arun chief executive Nigel Lynn and a member of its parks staff.